Lange 1: The Iconic A. Lange & Söhne Timepiece

The Lange 1 is one of the first and most successful models from A. Lange & Söhne. This classic watch features an in-house caliber, asymmetrical dial, outsize date display, and a 72-hour power reserve.

Highlights

Characteristic outsize date display

Asymmetrical dial with small seconds

Complications such as moon phase indicator, tourbillon, and perpetual calendar

In-house calibers used exclusively

Cases with diameters ranging from 36.1 mm to 41.9 mm - current models exclusively made of precious metals

Lange 1: Representing A. Lange & Söhne Since 1994

The German watch manufacturer A. Lange & Söhne introduced the Lange 1 in 1994. Together with the Pour le Mérite, Arkade, and Saxonia, the Lange 1 was one of the first four watches created by the company. Walter Lange founded Lange Uhren GmbH in 1990 in the small German town of Glashütte, which is considered the heart of German watchmaking. Prominent manufacturers such as Glashütte Original and Nomos are also headquartered there. A. Lange & Söhne follows in the footsteps of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, the founder of Glashütte watchmaking. He settled in Glashütte in 1845 with hopes of establishing a watch industry in the poor German region modeled after the successful Swiss industry. After a few years, Lange's apprentices founded supply firms and more watchmakers flocked to the area.

The Lange 1 has remained unchanged in its design for over 20 years. It still has the characteristic decentralized dial layout. The main dial is on the left side of most models, and Roman numerals and indices are used to mark the hours and minutes. Offset a little to the right is the small seconds. The outsize date display, another characteristic mark of the watch, is in the upper right-hand side. Altogether, the watch has a harmonious, cohesive look. This may have something to do with the fact that the center points of the main dial, small seconds, and date display form an isosceles triangle. The power reserve display together with its hand is another characteristic feature of this watch.

Buying Advice

If you're looking for a classic watch with a unique design, then the Lange 1 is perfect for you. Current models have cases made exclusively of precious metals - platinum or yellow, white, or pink gold. Occasionally, you can find stainless steel models from the 1990s. However, these are very rare and coveted by collectors. A pre-owned yellow gold Lange 1 costs around 17,000 euros. The prices for new watches start around 22,000 euros. Pre-owned platinum watches cost around the same amount; if you want a new one, plan on spending at least 30,000 euros. GMT watches, watches that display two time zones, cost around 27,000 euros pre-owned. Models with moon phase indicators are especially popular. A Lange 1 with this complication costs around 23,000 euros. If you want your new A. Lange & Söhne to feature a tourbillon, then you should be ready to spend around 90,000 euros. Watches with both a tourbillon and perpetual calendar are even more expensive, costing over 230,000 euros.

Lange 1 and Grand Lange 1

The Lange 1 has developed into an extensive collection over the past few years. The Lange 1 and Grand Lange 1 are closest to the original model. As its name suggests, the Grand Lange 1 is 2.4 mm bigger than the Lange 1. The case diameter of the standard model is just 38.5 mm. The Grand Lange has measured 40.9 mm in diameter since 2012. Older models of the Grand Lange 1, which were available between 2003 and 2012, had a diameter of 41.9 mm. The watch is available with a gold or platinum case, and the hands are made of rhodanized gold.

Lange watches are powered by notable calibers. The manual caliber L121.1 ticks away inside the standard versions of the Lange 1. This movement has a power reserve of 72 hours thanks to its twin mainspring barrels. The movement's freely oscillating balance spring is made in-house. The balance spring beats at a frequency of 21,600 alternations per hour (A/h). The hand-engraved balance cock is a real visual treat. The watch is regulated via six weights on the balance rim. The swan-neck fine adjustment helps ensure that the movement runs smoothly and precisely. The movement consists of 368 individual pieces. Forty-three of these pieces are synthetic rubies, eight of which are set in gold chatons. Blued screws keep them attached to the plate. The three-quarter plate, a characteristic feature of watches made in Glashütte, supports the train. Ferdinand Adolph Lange introduced the three-quarter plate in 1864.

A. Lange & Söhne has used the caliber L095.1 in the Grand Lange 1 since 2012. Like the L121.1, it has a power reserve of three days. However, unlike the L121.1, it only has one barrel with a larger diameter, making the caliber 4.7 mm thick. This movement also features the characteristic outsize date display and power reserve display. Thanks to the balance stop, you can set the time to the exact second. Tiny screws in the balance cock enable incredibly precise fine regulation. This movement also has a very finely engraved balance cock and a balance spring produced in-house. Producing the balance spring in-house is one of the largest challenges in watchmaking. A balance spring must be exactly 100 nm, equivalent to 1/100th the diameter of a human hair. The movement is made of 397 individual pieces, 42 of them jewel bearings. Seven of these jewels are set in gold chatons held in place by blued screws.

Features

Made for the Night: The Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase "Lumen"

The Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase "Lumen" is the first model from A. Lange & Söhne to feature a luminous date display and moon phase indicator, as well as luminous hands and applied indices. One highlight of this watch, limited to a run of 200, is its dial. It's partly made of semi-transparent sapphire glass, making some of the movement visible from the dial size. This design makes the platinum timepiece one of the most modern A. Lange & Söhne models.

The sapphire glass case back allows you to have a full view of the in-house caliber L095.4. Of course, this movement has all the typical A. Lange & Söhne characteristics: rubies set in screwed-down gold chatons, a three-quarter plate made of German silver, a screw balance, a swan-neck fine adjustment, a hand-engraved balance cock, and blued screws. A single barrel ensures a power reserve of 72 hours. The balance spring is made in-house. In total, the movement consists of 463 pieces, 42 of them jewel bearings.

Features

A Complicated Watch: The Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar

A. Lange & Söhne's Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar is considered one of the most complicated watches in the Lange 1 collection. It features a tourbillon, a mechanism to improve precision that was invented during the 18th century by Abraham-Louis Breguet. Translated into English, this French word means "whirlwind." The swing and escapement systems are set together in a cage which rotates on its own axis, eliminating deviations caused by gravity. Watches with a tourbillon are masterpieces of watchmaking. The Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar is available in pink or white gold.

A. Lange & Söhne introduced an innovative design for the perpetual calendar. Instead of displaying the months on a subdial, the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar has an outer month ring which displays the names of all 12 months. Thus, none of the displays overlap, keeping the watch's design smooth and harmonious. The leap year display is located at six o'clock, right above a golden arrow, which points to the current month. To the left is a small seconds subdial, which was combined with the moon phase display. The main dial for hours and minutes is on the right side, while the day of the week and outsize date display are on the left.

The caliber L082.1 is clearly visible through the sapphire glass case back. This also gives you a good view of the tourbillon, which makes one full rotation every minute. Thanks to the stop-seconds mechanism, you can set the watch to the exact second. The central rotor is made of gold and platinum and automatically winds the mainspring when you wear the watch. The caliber has a power reserve of 50 hours and a balance frequency of 21,600 A/h, which is equivalent to 3 Hz.